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Extreme Chunkin to Return to NHMS Oct. 14-15

In what has become an annual fall tradition, pumpkins will once again take to the air above New Hampshire Motor Speedway. On Oct. 14 and 15, more than 20 teams from across the United States will take part in the third annual Extreme Chunkin competition, which returns for a weekend full of launching pumpkins, vehicles, and 400-pound boulders.

The event, which pits backyard engineers in an all-out battle for pumpkin launching greatness, will feature four divisions: Air Cannon, Trebuchet, Catapult/Torsion, and Youth. Each division will feature three rounds of competition, including two rounds on Saturday and the final round on Sunday.

World record holder American Chunker, a $180,000 air cannon out of Merrimack, N.H., will return to defend the crown in the Air Cannon Division. In 2015, American Chunker shot a pumpkin more than 4,500 feet across the speedway's property and followed it up with a shot of nearly 4,200 feet last year to earn the top prize both years.

On top of the competition launching events, the Extreme Chunkin event will have a number of opportunities for attending fans to participate in various activities, including airbrush tattoo artist stations, kids archery tent, go-karts, the Monster Energy Trailer, a fried donut tent, pizza trailer, mini-donut stand, bread bowl tent, chicken tender & burger tent, beer tent, and a roaming refreshment cart.

The New Hampshire Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities will also be offering a tricycle course through hay bales.

Exhibition events include a 200-foot crane that will be making drops every hour, including a 700-pound pumpkin. The Yankee Siege Trebuchet, a six-time world champion that weighs 58,000 lbs, has 10-foot wheels, and is a gravity-driven machine, will launch cars, pianos and a massive thousand-pound pumpkin across the speedway property.

Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance and $15 on the day of the event. Children 10 and under are free.